Mario Monti quotes:

As to the question of elected or not elected, each member of the European Commission has been appointed jointly by the governments of the 15 member states, and undergone individual scrutiny and a vote of confidence from the European Parliament.

There was in Italy a hidden demand for a boring government which would try to tell the truth in non-political jargon.

Like other antitrust agencies we make our assessment of a merger or antitrust case based on its impact on our jurisdiction, and not on the nationality of the companies. This is exactly what the U.S. antitrust agencies, the Justice Department and the FTC, do.

Dominant companies have a special responsibility to ensure that the way they do business doesn't prevent competition... and does not harm consumers and innovation.

Much of what Germany and France have done in the rescue of Greece has also helped German and French banks, who for a long time were major creditors for Greece and Greek banks.

Italy has piled up huge public debt because the successive governments were too close to the life of ordinary citizens, too willing to please the requests of everybody, thereby acting against the interests of future generations.

The two greatest priorities for my government are tackling tax evasion and corruption.

The absence of political personalities in the government will help rather than hinder a solid base of support for the government in parliament and in the political parties because it will remove one ground for disagreement.

A lot of the American press at the time was saying 'just watch what happens when Bertelsmann tries to buy EMI, that will be a moment of truth that will show the Commission's true colors.' Well, that deal never happened either.

This is certainly not the first case in which a merger approved in one place hasn't gone through in the other. There was a case last year where the merger between two EU companies was approved here and blocked in the U.S.

I know this isn't a widespread view in the Anglo Saxon world, but I believe that much of the reconciliation between more centralized governance and the scope for democracy - democratic control - will be resolved through an even stronger role of the European Parliament.

If the euro becomes a factor promoting Europe's drifting apart, then the foundation of the European project is destroyed.

If Spain goes under, Italy will come under even more scrutiny.

I am certain that most Germans have instinctive liking for Italy, just as Italians admire Germans for their many qualities.

First of all, I don't like to speak about austerity. I'd prefer to speak of fiscal discipline. Fiscal discipline, in the end, amounts to austerity if it is not accompanied by other policies.

I hope that my government can help change Italian mentality.

I have the most profound respect for the Department of Justice and the FTC. We in Europe are a younger and I would say junior institution to the historical antitrust experience of the US.

In the area of macroeconomic policies, I think we'll see more centralization, like in the budgetary sphere.

There is no government in Europe where ministers go through that kind of confirmation process, which in fact is modeled on the way the U.S. cabinet members are confirmed.

Europe has to avoid old prejudices and new ones. That means north versus south, rich versus poor.

What will growth policy have to look like in a fiscally compacted Europe? Clearly any illusion of budget stimulated growth policy will have to go away.

I understand that Italy could have been associated with the idea of an undisciplined country in the past.

Reference to the territory and total disregard for the nationality of the companies is of course the best guarantee that competition assessment remain just that and doesn't get affected by trade or other considerations.

Growth in any individual European country has to be the result of policies for growth pursued in that country consistent with budgetary discipline.

If governments let themselves be fully bound by the decisions of their parliaments without protecting their own freedom to act, a breakup of Europe would be a more probable outcome than deeper integration.

So I think democracy, in the long-term, in our countries will survive if it comes to be associated with leadership, will not survive if democracy plus media brings to us more and more followship rather than leadership.

My aspiration is not to be loved. It is that my government be respected and credible.

It is very unusual for a country to ask guys who are not politicians to come and run the country.

I know that speaking with parties, which I do, but not very often, is seen by many as a 'contamination.'

I don't believe we're seeing the beginning of a divergence. We have seen a partial divergence on this case.

Italy even in the future will not need aid from the European Financial Stability Fund.

Not all Greeks are ready to do whatever is necessary to stay in the euro.

I believe that in Europe, we have a collective leadership.

I believe that reforms will not really take hold if they do not gradually come into the culture of the people.

I know that speaking with parties, which I do, but not very often, is seen by many as a contamination.

It is rather unusual for Italy to be at the forefront of pro-market initiatives.

Italy needed structural reforms to become more competitive.

The Italian economy has been held back for decades.